The FYI News Bulletin: Sept. 16, 2021

By David Farrell

CARAS has announced plans to stage Juno Week in Toronto between May 9 and 15 with the Awards set for May 15 at Budweiser Stage.

– Digital media content distributor Yangaroo reports signing a new multi-year service agreement with Universal Music Canada to maintain the use of the DMDS platform for promotional music distribution in Canada.

UMC has been using DMDS to distribute new music releases to radio and other promotional and media destinations in Canada since 2004. This is the first formal service agreement between the two companies.

In May, Yangaroo acquired NYC-based Digital Media Services Inc., a TV/OTT/CTV and video advertising and content management delivery business. In July, it struck an agreement with two Latino companies to expand its reach into US and South American markets. All told, the Canadian firm now has 90 employees, with 50  remotely working from beyond its Canadian office complex in Toronto’s Liberty Village and the balance in NYC.

– Noted Toronto entertainment reporter Rudy Blair and award-winning recording artist and broadcaster Paula Letang are the latest additions to the SING! board. The a cappella fest is also promoting its own webcast radio show on Joey Cee’s Maple Music Cafe site. To listen: Fridays at 8 pm Eastern, Sundays at 6 am and 6 pm Eastern on www.acaville.org

– Sakamoto Agency is has added three Canadian acts to the roster: Up and coming BC-based band The Heels, country alumni Duane Steele, and as a first for the agency, platinum-selling rock group Econoline Crush. 

– Indie NYC music pubbery Reservoir Media has is now repping Joni Mitchell’s sizeable song catalogue after a similar deal with Sony elapsed. She’s managed by ‘60s pop star turned successful producer and music mogul Peter Asher.

– A Canada’s Walk of Fame press conference is set for Sept. 23 at 10 am ET.

– The old geezers annual, better known as the Radio & Records Party, was to be held on Roy Thomson Hall’s outdoor patio later this month is now pushed to June 2022. The organizing committee of Gary Muth, Dave Charles, Tom Wilson and James Campbell has been expanded to include Jane Harbury and Perry Goldberg. Next year’s sponsors are Bernie Finkelstein, Steve Kane, Geoff Kulawick and Paul Ski.

– The Prince Consort Hotel in Brisbane has named its penthouses the Yorke Suites in honour of celebrated music journalist and city native Ritchie Yorke. In July, it was announced that his significant and voluminous personal music collection would leave Brisbane for Canberra, where it was welcomed by the National Film and Sound Archive, the Brisbane Times reports.